Electrolytic separation of copper and nickel from mattes or ores.



UNITED STATES ERNST A. SJOSTEDT AND JOSEPH HIDY JAMES, OF SAULT STE. MARIE, CANADA, ASSIGNORS TO FRANCIS HECTOR CLERQUE, OF SAULT STE.

MARIE, CANADA.

ELECTROLYTIC SEPARATION OF COPPER AND NICKEL FROM MATTES OR ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,998, dated April 21, 1903.

Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,993. (No specimens.)

To (@ZZ whom, it may concern..-

Beit known that We,ERNST ADOLF SJosTEDr and JOSEPH HIDY JAMES, of Sault Ste. Marie, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of r Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Separation of Copper and Nickel from Mattes or Ores; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear,and exact description of the same.

Our invention, which will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, relates to the electrolytic separation of copper and nickel from mattes and ores.

The copper-nickel matte (preferably further concentrated by bessemerizing or other suitable method) or ore is crushed to a powder and desulfurized, (roasted) The powdered matte or ore is treated for eight to ten hours with a forty -percent. sulfuric acid heated to the boiling temperature, which dissolves the iron, copper, and nickel. Allowing an excess of matte or ore, the undissolved residue may be treated a second time with fresh acid, when solution of the nickel oxid takes place more readily. The liquor thus obtained is diluted to the point at which it will just hold in solution the salts which have crystallized out in cooling, the acidity being thus brought below three per cent. The acid liquor while hot will hold more salts in solutionthanwhen'cold. Thereforein coolingpart of the salts will crystallize out. Hence cold water is added just sufilcient to dissolve the salts so crystallized out, making a saturated solution. The diluted liquor is electrolyzed to deposit the copper, using copper cathodes and platinum, graphitized carbon, or other insoluble anodes, starting with a current of normal densityof O. 3 amperes per one hundred square centimeters of cathode-surface. When the copper deposit begins to look dark and impure, the solution may be run off to treat fresh matte, since the acidity has increased by the copper being deposited. Heat is applied as before, more of the matte is brought in solution, and the electrolysis and extraction repeated as often as profitable. Finally to deposit the copper in an adherent form the current is gradually reduced as the deposit shows during the electrolysis.

signs of becoming dark and loose. \Vhen no more copper can be deposited in a satisfactory form, the current is set back to 0.3 or 0.5 amperes per one hundred square centimeters of cathode-surface and electrolysis continued as long as any copper is deposited, or, if necessary, the last trace of copper may be removed by filtering the solution through a filter of nickel sulfid or iron sulfid. The electrolyte is kept agitated by a current of air The copper having all been removed, the remaining liquor or solution is nearly neutralized with caustic soda, then made am moniacal, the iron oxidized by a blast of air, (preferably air rich in oxygen,) and the precipitated ferric hydrate filtered oil. The drawn-off liquor, being neutral or but slightly ammoniacal, is now subjected to an electric current of normal density of 0.6 to 0.9 amperes per one hundred square centimeters of cathod e-surface,nickel cathodes and graphitized carbon or other insoluble anodes being used, the solution kept agitated by a current of air sufliciently heated to keep it at a temperature of to centigradewhen the nickel is deposited.

We claim as our invention- 1. An electrolytic process of separating copper and nickel from mattes and ores, consisting in concentrating, crushing and desulfurizing matte or ore, dissolving out the metals by dilute sulfuric acid heated to the boiling temperature, diluting the cool liquor sufiiciently to redissolve the salts which have crystallized out in cooling and thus bringing it to the point at which it will just hold the salts in solution, electrolyzing the solution with a current of normal density of about 0.3 amperes per one hundred square centimeters of cathode-surface while being agitated with-a current of air until most of the copper has been deposited and the deposit begins to darken, running off the solution to treat fresh matte or ore, repeating the electrolysis and solution as before as often as profitable and finally depositing as much as possible of the copper in an adherent form by reducing the current whenever the copper deposit begins to appear dark, nearly neutralizing the re- Correction in Letters Palient No. 725,998.

maining solution with caustic soda then making it ammoniacal, oxidizing the iron by a blast of air,filtering oif the precipitated ferric hydrate and electrolyizing the liquor to deposit the nickel (using nickel cathodes and graphitized carbon or other insoluble anodes) with a current of normal density of from 0.6 to 0.9 ampcres per one hundred square centimeters of cathode-surface while heated to 80 or 90 centigrade, and agitated by a current of air, substantially as set forth.

2. An electrolytic process of separating copper and nickel from mattes and ores, consisting in crushing and desulfurizing the matte or ore, subjecting it to a fort-y-per-cent. sulfuric acid heated to boiling temperature to dissolve the iron, copper and nickel, diluting the cool liquor sufficiently to redissolve the Francis Hector Clergue;

[SEAL.]

James, of Sault Ste. Liarie, Canada, for an improvement in p of Copper and Nickel from Mattes or Ores, was erroneously written and printed Francis Eector Olerque, whereas said name should have been written and printed and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this In witness whereof we have hereunto set 30 our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNST A. SJOSTEDT. JOSEPH HIDY JAMES. \Vitnesses:

FRANK E. LEACH, S. J. IIOPKINS.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 725,998,. granted April 21, 1908, upon the application of Ernst A. Sjostedt and Joseph H1dy Electrolytic Separation correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 12th day of May, A. D., 1903.

F. I. ALLEN, Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Palient No. 725,998.

maining solution with caustic soda then making it ammoniacal, oxidizing the iron by a blast of air,filtering oif the precipitated ferric hydrate and electrolyizing the liquor to deposit the nickel (using nickel cathodes and graphitized carbon or other insoluble anodes) with a current of normal density of from 0.6 to 0.9 ampcres per one hundred square centimeters of cathode-surface while heated to 80 or 90 centigrade, and agitated by a current of air, substantially as set forth.

2. An electrolytic process of separating copper and nickel from mattes and ores, consisting in crushing and desulfurizing the matte or ore, subjecting it to a fort-y-per-cent. sulfuric acid heated to boiling temperature to dissolve the iron, copper and nickel, diluting the cool liquor sufficiently to redissolve the Francis Hector Clergue;

[SEAL.]

James, of Sault Ste. Liarie, Canada, for an improvement in p of Copper and Nickel from Mattes or Ores, was erroneously written and printed Francis Eector Olerque, whereas said name should have been written and printed and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this In witness whereof we have hereunto set 30 our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNST A. SJOSTEDT. JOSEPH HIDY JAMES. \Vitnesses:

FRANK E. LEACH, S. J. IIOPKINS.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 725,998,. granted April 21, 1908, upon the application of Ernst A. Sjostedt and Joseph H1dy Electrolytic Separation correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 12th day of May, A. D., 1903.

F. I. ALLEN, Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 725,998.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 725,998,

granted April 21, 1903, upon the application of Ernst A. Sjostedt and Joseph Hidy James, of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, for an improvement in Electrolytic Separation of Copper and Nickel from Mattes or Ores, was erroneously written and printed Francis Hector Clerque, whereas said name should have been written and printed Francis Hector Clergue; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 12th day of May, A. D., 1903.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

